Dogs are true omnivores. My dog’s been vegan for her entire 7 years. Perfect health. My girlfriend switched her elder dogs to the same food. One of them had massive skin problems and joint issues - it all cleared up. She never cared for her old meat based food...reluctantly ate it -now, that dog loses her mind every time it’s feeding time. Her other dog is an old
Pug, and the vet says she’s the healthiest old pug she’s ever seen. My cat, however, eats a salmon based diet.

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Isn't that your escape outfit from Oregon State Hospital and nurse Ratched ?

LTG : )

I have never prosteletized about my diet...I just wanna eat what I wanna eat and do my thing. It’s always the meat eaters who take the initiative to bring it up, insult me, rub it in my face, and mock. Classic insecurity.

The problem with any alternative diet is that some people just aren't smart about it, and sometimes follow it because it's the latest trendy thing to do, rather than actually looking at what it would take to maintain a healthy diet under veganism, vegetarianism, etc.

You can say the same thing about the “mainstream diet”...on a systemic & cultural level, this rendering this criticism on “alternatives” moot.

Maybe--but alternative diets are primarily known for having somewhat strict restrictions on certain foods.

Ironically being vegan has opened me up to a massive variety of foods I probably would have never discovered otherwise, as I grew up on a “standard” midwestern burger/hotdog/pizza/chicken diet...the only real ethnic branch-off for my family was Chinese food.

It’s probably because I’m used to it - but I really don’t consider lack of meat/dairy/egg a restriction. They’re just a few things...plus there are great vegan substitutions for all...and, I can eat everything else.

Here’s some of the stuff I’ve been eating in Hawaii this week:

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Generally speaking, those parents aren't too smart (I refrained from calling them idiots). If their children have malnutrition and have suffered from starvation it means that the children are not getting enough of the high density calories on the vegan diet, which is very important considering how small children's stomachs are. Meat has a very high caloric density compared to most vegetables and fruits, so care needs to be taken to feed them the higher caloric density foods like nuts, seeds, avocados, quinoa, beans, coconut milk etc.

There are tons of examples of children raised vegan without issue. I agree though, it will take a little more effort on the parents part to make sure that their children are getting the right nutrition and calories, but it really isn't that hard.

Have to admit, I've missed your posts.

It goes both ways, though. I have some vegan friends who are always judging me for what I eat and what I feed to my kids. One of my closest friends was just at my house yesterday. The first thing he did was open my refrigerator to see what was in there, and it wasn't because he was hungry.

That person wouldn't be my 'friend' anymore.

Have you been around? I thought you had quit around the time I left.

Also, if you’re ever in Reseda - go to Vinh Loi...amazing vegan Vietnamese! Their soups are just incredible. Kevin, the owner and chef, does shit like this- dumplings on a “vegan duck” sub:

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I'm glad to see both of you guys active again. I hope you'll stick around.

He’s an asshole. I’d never look in my friend’s fridge.

Thanks. These have mostly been “on the toilet in Hawaii” postings. We’ll see when I get home. I don’t see myself talking about pinball much, tho. This thread is fun.

i eat mostly vegetarian but the thing that I think would be the hardest to convert to vegan is taking out cheese. i dont do most dairy products like milk, sour cream, etc.. but cheese... veggie pizza has cheese, veggie burritos have cheese...

the idea that milk from cows is designed to make a tiny calf into a giant cow, i dont think humans need all that shit. especially when you throw in all the hormones and shit. but i just am a huge hypocrite cause cheese is great hah.

what do you guys/gals use as a substitute for cheese, or do you just for go it all together?

I grew up in a "steak and potato" family in nebraska but i eat meat maybe once a month if i have to these days. everything in moderation for me, except beer and pinball.

I don't know about others, but my grocery bill has plummeted since I began plant-based eating. It's approximately $125 avg per week to feed a family of 7.

There are tons of great vegan cheese on the market, most are soy-free now.

Look up these brands and see if you can find them near you:

Daiya - Prob the most successful and easy to buy vegan cheese. Love it on pizza, burritos, grilled cheese, etc. Comes in shreds, slices, blocks, cream cheese.

Miyoko’s - phenomenal cashew based cheese. Their Mozzerella is very much like the real thing - the soft style gourmet pizzerias use.

Parmella - Prob my favorite for pizza, but harder to find

Chao - Coconut based cheese. Very good slices for sandwiches.

Follow Your Heart - One of the originals from way back when. Daiya made them step up their game and they’re so much better than they used to be. Great slices for sandwiches and shreds for pizza

Kite Hill - Whole Foods exclusive, but very good ricotta style.

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Where's the good vegan places to go in Allentown? Or is it more of a "bring pb&j supplies" kind of place?

I’ve never been, but I just use Yelp everywhere I go, and always seem to find something.

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For people who have digestive issues, I would recommend getting rid of dairy as the first step. If you have issues with it (which some people argue that over half the population does), it'll be very difficult to figure out unless you go cold turkey since it is in most meals.

Ice cream is awesome, but not worth feeling uncomfortable for several hours afterwards.

Daiya. It's a bit odd at first, taste wise, takes some getting used to, but it's way better than the cashew or other nut based crap that vegan cafes have been foisting on people for years. The melt and texture on it is REALLY good, IMO, and honestly, it even acts like legit cheese in that if you overcook it it turns into crunchy goodness, so you still get like crisp edges on lasgna/casserole etc.

Also, you can do a concoction of cauliflower and vinegar to do a mock ricotta that is pretty good. I'll get the info from my wife and post it if anyone's interested. My kid's allergic to egg, milk, soy, peanut... so we've had some creative food things..I could eat the veg lasgna with the fake cheese and ricotta pretty much every day if someone would be arsed to make it.

There is so much great vegan ice cream now, based on coconut, almond or cashew milk. There are even non-dairy Ben & Jerry’s and Breyer’s now!! Granted it’s not health food or anything, still tons of sugar, but tastes great!

Daiya has a new recipe that’s starting to hit markets and restaurants. It’s a little less “gummy” and “white” than the original version....definitely more close to real cheese now. Not sure if you have Blaze Pizza (a fast pizza chain), but they have it. Also Fresh Brothers in CA.

I highly recommend you try Miyoko’s - it will change your mind about nut-based cheese. It’s cultured and aged. Really amazing stuff.

Um, frankly, I just took you off ignore when I saw your thumb up on the comment, to see what you'd said on this thread. Maybe we can get along this time? ¬_¬;

I don't think we have Blaze Pizza, but Mellow Mushroom makes pies with Daiya, I think. We use mostly the cheddar block and shreds, very rarely ever the mozz unless it's for lasagna. Finding it consistently near us has been...irritating, honestly. One week stores will have it, the next they won't. They'll randomly drop parts of the product line they'd had for months and then they'll be back a month later, and just outright not carry entire sections (yogurt, looking at you buddy.). I don't think I've ever seen Miyoko's available in any of our stores..likely my best bet is going to be Central Market.

That's helpful.

I've been looking for something that is more akin to what I enjoy but considerate and appreciative of my vegan friends.

I will say, as a plain'ol omnivore, the growth of veganism and brought forward a lot more options, variety, and quality to non-animal foods. Its welcome all around

I struggle to find things too cook for friends that are vegan. I'm not as prone to having them over because it's a lot of hoops and constraints to meet their needs.

.

We weren’t getting along? I haven’t been here in 4 or 5 months, so I don’t even know lol.

What type of things do you normally cook? There’s usually a way to veganize almost anything.

Yeah, I've forgotten why you'd pissed me off, so was probably past due anyways. =Þ

I'll never be vegan, but by nature of my kid and just inherently liking veg more than most people, threads like this interest me.

Meh, enjoy both sides like i do, but then again i work as a carpenter and also worked as a lumberjack for years before that so getting up and move around alot after a hearthy steak dinner is the biggest secret to a healthy life, our forefathers ate it all and didnt go obese

You just have to find what works for you. I eat meat, but I also eat veggies (especially the green stuff), fruits, and nuts. That works for me. I've lost a ton of weight and I feel great. Easy on the carbs and dairy, not much sugar. I do sometimes eat junk, but I'm so much more aware of how shitty that sort of stuff makes me feel afterward. And yeah, move your body. I've got 10 pounds of holiday weight I'm trying to get rid of. It's tough when you aren't so fat anymore. I may need another hurricane to come through so I can spend a month clearing debris. That got rid of it the last time.

Pictures of food?
Did Zuckerberg buy Pinside?

also, out forefathers didnt have high fructose corn syrup injected into every other thing

Haven't been around for about 10 months. Just meant I missed your posts from a combination of both of us being away.

Thanks for the reco on Vinh Loi. Will keep that one in mind.

Those are the idiots who give vegans a bad reputation. I hate that crap. Huge turnoff, and it actually has the opposite effect of getting someone curious about a vegan diet.

When I did my research on my digestive issues I was disappointed that I came to the conclusion that I would need to go full vegan instead of vegetarian, because I'd have to give up cheese. I read about most new vegans struggling to give up their cheese. I can't remember offhand what ingredient is in cheese (casein?), but it is very addictive, and is the reason that it is so hard to give up.

My biggest surprise so far has been how little I have missed cheese! Didn't see that coming. I haven't drank milk for decades, so that was no big deal, but man, it is astonishing how many processed foods have milk in it! That has been the hardest thing to get used to...things that you think are vegan aren't, because they have freaking milk in them. Government subsidies have made milk cheap, and they have a strong lobby behind them.

I tried my first vegan pizza from The Blaze that Rarehero was talking about. Pretty good! But to be honest, I think I would have enjoyed it just as much without the vegan cheese as I did with it.

We ate a lot of steak and chicken, so our grocery bills have gone down as well. Things like Avocados, the Beyond Meat Burger, and things like certain nuts (Brazil, Macadamia) can bring the price of the vegan bill up a bit though.

Could not agree more. Meat is not good for digestion either, but dairy can really play havoc with the gut. I think 60% of the worlds population is lactose intolerant. That says a lot.

The importance of cows milk:

Me personally, meat and diary almost exclusively. Maybe not healthy but happy. I'm working to balance that more and is why I pay attention more closely to vegetarian and vegan options. Usually when I have people over, its BBQ. I'm working smoking more things other than meat to get there, and bought a dehydrator to experiment with raw foods, mostly vegetables.

I'm experimenting this week with dehydrating garlic, tomato, and onions. I'm hoping to test both raw and roasted version to see if there's a flavor difference. I'm interested in the flavor mostly, vs the nutritional profile. I'm hoping for differences from store bought.

I'm focusing my experiment with with dehydrated fresh food as a way to get away from preservatives and salt. I like Tofu and Lentils, hoping I can get a deeper umami profile to these with some roasted seasoning that I can apply quickly, making these kinds of options easier to make and share.

In the dehydrator tomorrow plain raw garlic, roasted, and maybe some sliced brushed with tamari. I'll test these on foods to see if they taste different and if they hold up to additional cooking as a flavor enhancer or flavor base and how different it is from store bought or not worth the effort.

I'm pro insect protein.

Anyone want to share their favorite vegetarian and vegan meals? I still eat eggs, but have cut meat and dairy out of most of my diet. I'll still have it on occasion out of convenience when traveling, but focusing on having a whole foods plant-based diet.

I tried going vegan, but I had trouble getting enough micronutrients/minerals in my diet such as iron and calcium that it was hard to see if I was actually doing my body any favors. I started to feel off.

Kite Hill can now be found at other natural-food stores. Source: I'm a buyer for natural food stores

We have a local company called Punk Rawk Labs that has pretty good nut-based cheese.

I use nutritional yeast to flavor some product for a vaguely cheesy flavor and get more B12 in my diet.

I'll always eat eggs. When I was sticking to 1500 calories a day, eggs were a lot of bang for the buck. MY HDL cholesterol levels went up significantly as well.

This thread is a perfect example of a topic that shouldn't be discussed on pinside as it separates and divides us *exactly* like a discussion of religion or politics does. People take their views on food sometimes too far and it can take on a type of fanaticism. We should instead celebrate our shared love of pinball and not things that separate us as there are already so few people in this hobby compared to other hobbies. I'm all for open and free discussion but sheesh - I say let's just all decide to eat what we all want and get back to pinball -- I'm just saying

^^^^ I'll be eating popcorn after that comment. ^^^^^

New Harmony in Philly. Get the Phoenix Chicken. Good vegan Chinese.

Im not seeing any food fight????

Im learning a great deal, and very happy with others knowledge.

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There's a place in the farmer's market that makes falafel and has a bunch of other vegan stuff. Middle East type salads and shit. Forget the name.

Then there's Fegley's Brew works. Great hummus plater and tasty veggie wrap... and you can get shitfaced.

Fegley's has a 2nd floor you can reserve. Always thought it'd be cool to have some games up there after the show... and get shitfaced.

I had already figured out that I felt way better without dairy, but the movie that this clip came from (Cowspiracy), was the thing that ultimately led me to try going without meat. Compared to all the other things anyone could be doing to save the planet, not eating meat is probably the easiest, cheapest, most impactful, and requires the least effort. Having to take out the compost and recycling a few times a week is more work!

Let's just be frank. There are a lot of unhealthy people in pinball. If one person decides to eat better because of this thread, it was worth it. You are going to do what you are going to do. Some of us are going to turn back from the cliff, and some of us are going to run off it. I was close to, and probably at some times was, morbidly obese. You feel like death, like someone who isn't going to live a long life. I am not there anymore and will never be there again. I did it just eating better and walking more. Anyone can. Pick a day one and make sure there is a day 30. If you can do that, you got it.

Cashew ice cream is incredible.

I tell people if you do nothing else, do the following at a minimum:

Eat 1 salad every day
Eliminate processed meats
Eliminate dairy

The correlation between diary and cancer is high, real high. It causes constipation and inflammation in the GI system and is the leading cause of adolescent acne. And they have a very power full lobby....

"Got Milk"?
"Milk, it does a Body Good"

What part of this was divisive?

“Nut cheese” made my inner 12-year-old laugh. Heheh.

Better than Toe Cheese!

What is the best Vegan substitute for Chicken in Markets today?

Hows a chicken parm, with the vegan cheese?

The "Best Pasta", calories and health has made me crazy trying everything, and finding huge taste/little nutrional
difference....any recommendations? Quinoa, Spelt, Chick Pea, Whole Wheat, what others?

I just saw a news article yesterday. Cut paste and google this. You will get a thousand hits.

food poison lawyer article things to never eat

Mostly raw eggs, unpasteurized milk products, salads, cut fruits and vegetables. There are a surprising amount of "healthy" foods on the lists.